Health News

Exhaled breath may help identify early lung cancer

Date: Jan-28-2014
Specific compounds found in exhaled breath may help diagnose lung cancer in its early stages, according to a study released at the 50th Annual Meeting of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. The discovery was made when Michael Bousamra, MD and researchers from the University of Louisville examined patients with suspicious lung lesions.

Focused ultrasound exam could accurately identify athletes at-risk for sudden cardiac death

Date: Jan-28-2014
A young athlete in seemingly excellent health dies suddenly from a previously undetected cardiovascular condition such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in nearly every U.S. state annually. Although these conditions can be detected using electrocardiography (ECG) during a screening exam, the American Heart Association recommends against routine use of ECG, because it has a high false-positive rate. Limiting screening to a history and physical, however, usually fails to identify at-risk athletes.

Researchers analyse microbes found in neonatal intensive care unit

Date: Jan-28-2014
They are one of the cleanest environments in a hospital, but neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) still contain microbes, according to a study published in the open access journal Microbiome. The authors of this pilot study speculate that these non-pathogenic microbes then go on to populate the guts of premature babies, who do not have gut microflora due to antibiotic treatment. When babies are delivered, their guts are normally populated with non-pathogenic microbes through the delivery process.

Salmonella research could lead to treatments for asthma

Date: Jan-28-2014
Researchers from Germany have identified the mechanism by which Salmonella infections can reduce the incidence of asthma in mice. The research, which appears ahead of print in the journal Infection and Immunity, opens up new avenues of research that could lead to treatments.Incidence of allergies has climbed dramatically in recent years. A leading theory, the "hygiene hypothesis," posits that this surge results from the modern western obsession with cleanliness, which is leaving immune systems inexperienced and improperly developed.

What are the health benefits of kiwis (kiwifruit)?

Date: Jan-28-2014
The kiwifruit, native to northern China, was first brought to and cultivated in New Zealand at the turn of the 20th century and was then known as the Chinese Gooseberry. When the time came to export the fruit, to avoid the high duties charged on berries, the name was changed to the kiwifruit, or kiwi because of the fruits shared characteristics with New Zealand's national symbol, the kiwi bird, which is also small, brown and fuzzy.2Kiwis are a nutrient dense food, meaning they are high in nutrients and low in calories.

Origin of unusual glands in the body discovered

Date: Jan-28-2014
The thymus gland is a critical component of the human immune system that is responsible for the development of T-lymphocytes, or T-cells, which help organize and lead the body's fighting forces against harmful organisms like bacteria and viruses.The main body of the thymus lies beneath the breastbone in the upper chest. But scientists were surprised several years ago when two teams of researchers discovered that both mice and humans have extra thymus-like glands distributed throughout their necks.

Salmonella research could lead to treatments for asthma

Date: Jan-28-2014
Researchers from Germany have identified the mechanism by which Salmonella infections can reduce the incidence of asthma in mice. The research, which appears ahead of print in the journal Infection and Immunity, opens up new avenues of research that could lead to treatments.Incidence of allergies has climbed dramatically in recent years. A leading theory, the "hygiene hypothesis," posits that this surge results from the modern western obsession with cleanliness, which is leaving immune systems inexperienced and improperly developed.

PTSD treatment progress impacted by depression symptoms and emotional support

Date: Jan-28-2014

Many individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) also experience depression. Researchers at Case Western Reserve University found that during PTSD treatments, rapid improvements in depression symptoms are associated with better outcomes.Often while undergoing treatment, those suffering PTSD typically count on family and friends to help them through it.

Potential drug targets found for early onset glaucoma

Date: Jan-28-2014
Using a novel high-throughput screening process, scientists have for the first time identified molecules with the potential to block the accumulation of a toxic eye protein that can lead to early onset of glaucoma.Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can damage the eye's optic nerve and cause vision loss and blindness. Elevated eye pressure is the main risk factor for optic nerve damage.Researchers have implicated a mutant form of a protein called myocilin as a possible root cause of this increased eye pressure.

Potential drug targets found for early onset glaucoma

Date: Jan-28-2014
Using a novel high-throughput screening process, scientists have for the first time identified molecules with the potential to block the accumulation of a toxic eye protein that can lead to early onset of glaucoma.Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can damage the eye's optic nerve and cause vision loss and blindness. Elevated eye pressure is the main risk factor for optic nerve damage.Researchers have implicated a mutant form of a protein called myocilin as a possible root cause of this increased eye pressure.